Method of making rubber tubes



1. G. Moon/IY. METHOD 0F MAKING RUBBER TUBES.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 18' |921- Pmma oct. 24v,

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Patented @et 24h (1922..

l JOSEPH G. IVIEO-lllI`,` F ERIE, YENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOE TO MARY 1:11.m1003113?, 0F ERDE,

, PENNSYLVANZEA. l v i l l METHOD `OF WIAKING: RUBBER TBES.

Application. filed February 18, `1921. Serial No. 443,030.

To all fio/tom 'it may concern:

Be `it known that JOSEPH G. Mooivrr, a citizen of the United States,residing at Erie, in the county of Erie and State of Pennsylvania, haveinvented new and `use-- ful improvements in the Methods of Making RubberTubes, of which the following is a specification.

The invention is particularly designed for 1.0 forming inner tubes forpneumatic tires. In forming such tubes there are more or less losses dueto the trapping of air on the poles on which the tubes are formed andalso from the wear or deterioration ofthe wrapping i5 duck which iscommonly used while the tube is being vulcanized. With the presentmethod and apparatus the tube is rolled on a pole and the pole is heatedso as to make the rubber forming the tube more plastic and also so as toexpand any untrapped air or moisture. The tube is` wrapped, thewrappingremaining on the tube while warm and the material being plasticthe' edge of the material from which the tube is formed is smooth. Afterthe tube is cool while in the wrapping and before the vulcanizing thewrapper is removed. This permits of an inspection of the tube showingwhether there is any trapped air ormoisture and if so it may be readilyremoved. The tube is then vulcanized without the wrapping.

This is possible because of the initial heat-` `ing which tends toshrink the tube on the pole also the initial wrapping which has formedthe tube.

ln the drawing l have shown an apparatus for carrying out the method asfollows Fig. 1 shows a plan View of the machine.

Fig.` 2 an enlarged view of the spindles. p

Fig. 3 a front elevation.

1 marks the frame of the machine, 2 the driving head of the machine, and3 the tail head of the machine. A driving spindle 4 is mounted inbearings la in the head 2.

the hea-d 3. A brake drum 18 is mounted on the spindle 16 and subjectedtolthe action of a brake band 19. The spindle 16 has the usual squaredend 16a forl receiving a pole 20. A cone 21 is mounted in a spindle 21a.The spindle is carried in bearings 22 in the head 3. A spring 23operates on a collar 24 to force the cone 21 forward. This pole isinserted and removed as the pole 11.

The spindle l has a fluid connection 25, the spindle being hollow andprovided at its end with a stuffing box 26 for receiving the connection.An exhaust connection 27 `eX- tends into the spindle 21a, this spindlealso being hollow and provided with a stufng box 28 to receive theconnection. Steam is controlled in the connection 25 by means of a valve30. A rod 31 extends along the machine by means of which steam may beturned onor turned off from the connection. The spindles 16 and 21;L arealso hollow and have the connections 32 and 33.

ln carrying out the method with the apparatus thetube is rolled up onthe pole 11. The pole 11 is placed in the machine and steam turned intothe pole to heat the same. The pole iswrapped with a wrapper 34, theclutch being utilized to control the rotating movement of the spindle tobring about the wrapping in the usual manner. Preferably the wrapping isaccomplished by unwrapping the wrapper from the pole 20, tension beinggiven to the wrapper through the action of the brake 18. The heatdelivered to the pole is sufficient to warm the stock to a plasticcondition sothat the edge of the stock which is being rolled is smoothedout on the pole. Further the heating shrinks the wrapper on the pole soas to form a smooth inner surface for the tube. The Wrapping also putsthe wrapper under pressure as it is warm. The tube with the wrapping onis allowed to cool and then the wrapper is removed preferably directlyfrom this pole to a second pole. Afterwards the tube is vulcanized, thepartial forming of the tube and preliminary heating of the tuberetaining the rubber in shape on the pole. This method permits of theinspection of the tube prior to the vulcanization and the removal of anyair or moisture. As the pole is heated and Wound any Vapor or air isordinarily carried 'forward and discharged at the end of the tube at'thecompletion of the Wrapping but if therel is any indication ot trappedair or vapor the tube may be punctured at the point and Wrapped so as toeure the defect. In this Way there is practically no loss in the formingof tubes.

` What I claim as new is l.. The method of making rubber tubes whichconsists in forming the stock on a central form; subjecting the stockWhile on the form to a Warming action introduced through the form; andthen vulcanizing the tube on the form.

2. The method of making rubber tubes which consists in forming the stockon a central form; subjecting the stock (o a Warming and wrappingoperation: removingl the wrapping; and vulcanizing the tube on the form.

3. The method of makingr rubber tubes which consists in formingthe stockon a central form; subjecting,` the stock to a Warming and Wrappingoperation; cooling the tube; removing the Wrapping; und rulcanizing thetube on the form.

et. The method of' making rubber tubes which consists in forming;` thestock on a central form; warming` the inner part of the stock throughthe iorin; wrapping and retaining the stock While warm; coolingr thestock; removing the wrapper; und vulcanizing' the tube on the form.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto sot my hand.

JOSEPH G. MOOMY.

